The Virginia Tech Massacre
Strategies and Challenges for Improving Mental Health Policy on Campus and Beyond
Published on 23. October 2014
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-0-19-539249-4 (ISBN)
Description
In the wake of the April 2006 Virginia Tech shootings, governor Timothy Kaine appointed an independent panel to investigate the incident and to recommend potential policy changes that might prevent such a tragedy from occurring again. The incident itself and the work of the panel mobilized the entire nation to examine many aspects of the tragedy, most centrally university mental health systems. Certain aspects of the case raised issues that were not addressed by the resulting report, such as the role of the college mental health system in the lives of young adults, the complexity of identifying the mental health needs of students, and the shortcomings of mental health delivery systems within colleges as well the larger community.
The Virginia Tech Massacre is based on the experience and unique perspective of Dr. Aradhana Bela Sood, a panel member appointed to the special independent review committee which was asked to consult specifically on the mental health system implications of the VA Tech shooting. This book discloses Sood's personal experience as a child psychiatrist and panel member, and her role in shaping the final report. Sood, along with co-editor Dr. Robert Cohen, who has been involved in studying and reforming mental health policy for more than 40 years, and carefully selected expert contributors take readers on a journey examining the mental health vulnerabilities of youth transitioning to adulthood, the limitations of existing warning tools for violence, and local, regional, and national gaps in mental health service delivery across the United States. This book offers examples of effective mental health services, policies, and strategies, and it provides concrete and pragmatic recommendations for how to begin overhauling the delivery of mental health services. The Virginia Tech Massacre is topical and timely, given the widespread interface between violence in the public arena and mental health issues. It will be a critical resource to mental health professionals, policymakers and legislators, state and local government officials, higher education personnel, and social workers and others in the human service fields. It will also be of interest to those concerned about gun violence and mental health and students in psychiatry, psychology, social work, and public health.
The Virginia Tech Massacre is based on the experience and unique perspective of Dr. Aradhana Bela Sood, a panel member appointed to the special independent review committee which was asked to consult specifically on the mental health system implications of the VA Tech shooting. This book discloses Sood's personal experience as a child psychiatrist and panel member, and her role in shaping the final report. Sood, along with co-editor Dr. Robert Cohen, who has been involved in studying and reforming mental health policy for more than 40 years, and carefully selected expert contributors take readers on a journey examining the mental health vulnerabilities of youth transitioning to adulthood, the limitations of existing warning tools for violence, and local, regional, and national gaps in mental health service delivery across the United States. This book offers examples of effective mental health services, policies, and strategies, and it provides concrete and pragmatic recommendations for how to begin overhauling the delivery of mental health services. The Virginia Tech Massacre is topical and timely, given the widespread interface between violence in the public arena and mental health issues. It will be a critical resource to mental health professionals, policymakers and legislators, state and local government officials, higher education personnel, and social workers and others in the human service fields. It will also be of interest to those concerned about gun violence and mental health and students in psychiatry, psychology, social work, and public health.
Reviews / Votes
With ongoing political, cultural, and ethical discussions both locally and nationally around issues of gun control, freedom of speech, privacy, and an ongoing urgent need to combat stigma of mental illness, this book holds a unique place in the dialogue- offering more insight and evidence for our collective consideration. Dr. Sood's window to this event is unique, and while she uses research to support her assertions, her ability to use this event through which to propose more detailed intervention and preventions is impressive. Readers at all levels of training and career as well as varied disciplines will benefit from this book. * Amy M. Ursano, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Training Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, University of North Carolina * Virginia Tech, Santa Barbara, Connecticut, Columbine * the list grows longer each year. What must we do as a nation to prevent these terrible tragedies? Dr. Sood, Dr. Cohen, and their colleagues reach beyond the blame game to identify what we all could have done better to prevent the Virginia Tech massacre. They examine the contributions of inadequately funded student services, the challenges of a legal system that places individual rights over public safety, the profound inadequacies of our mental health system, and the contributions of our nation's poorly conceived gun laws to this awful event. They identify the missed opportunities in each sector that, if realized, might have helped prevent it. They distill lessons we can use to help prevent similar future tragedies. Policymakers and concerned citizens: read fast. This is the type of information we need to create real and meaningful change.Lyndee Knox, PhD, CEO and Senior Scientist, LA Net Community and Practice Based Research *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
593 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-539249-4 (9780195392494)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Aradhana Bela Sood | Robert Cohen
The Virginia Tech Massacre
Strategies and Challenges for Improving Mental Health Policy on Campus and Beyond
E-Book
09/2014
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€65.99
Available for download
Persons
Aradhana Bela Sood, MD, MSHA, is Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Senior Professor for Child Mental Health Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. She is also Medical Director of VCU's Virginia Treatment Center for Children.
Robert Cohen, PhD, is an independent policy and program development consultant and visiting scholar at Northern Arizona University. Dr. Cohen has been involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of children's mental health and youth violence prevention policy and programs from a comprehensive, systems-based ecological perspective for the past 45 years.
Robert Cohen, PhD, is an independent policy and program development consultant and visiting scholar at Northern Arizona University. Dr. Cohen has been involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of children's mental health and youth violence prevention policy and programs from a comprehensive, systems-based ecological perspective for the past 45 years.
Content
Part I Lessons from VA Tech ; Chapter 1 The Tragedy at Virginia Tech ; Aradhana Bela Sood ; Chapter 2 How Could This Have Happened? ; Hollis Stambaugh and Aradhana Bela Sood ; Chapter 3 Insights from Interviews and Other First-Hand Accounts ; Aradhana Bela Sood and Hollis Stambaugh ; Chapter 4 Getting Behind the Mind of the Killer: What Made Him Do It? A Child Psychiatrist's Perspective ; Aradhana Bela Sood ; Part II Mental Healthcare on Campus ; Chapter 5 Failures in Campus Mental Health Systems: Lessons from Virginia Tech ; Aradhana Bela Sood and Adele Martel ; Chapter 6 Best Practices and Resources: National Models for College Student Mental Health ; Adele Martel and Aradhana Bela Sood ; Chapter 7 Predicting Violence in Public Places ; Cheryl S. Al-Mateen, Sala S. Webb, and Aradhana Bela Sood ; Part III The Mental Healthcare System in the United States ; Chapter 8 Mental Health Services in the United States: Pre and Post Virginia Tech ; Aradhana Bela Sood and Robert Cohen ; Chapter 9 Global Perspectives on Mental Health Care ; Robert Cohen and Aradhana Bela Sood ; Chapter 10 Toward More Responsive Systems of Care: Challenges and Strategies ; Robert Cohen and Aradhana Bela Sood ; Conclusion: Closing Thoughts ; Aradhana Bela Sood